Live updates of SEC match

After an impressive nonconference performance, No. 2 Texas volleyball rolled into the start of SEC play Wednesday with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-21 win over Vanderbilt at Gregory Gymnasium.

But the win for the Longhorns (9-0, 1-0 SEC)) was anything but routine. For the first time this season, they had to play without setter Ella Swindle, who injured her lower left leg earlier in the week and watched the match while wearing a walking boot. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said Swindle is “day to day” and could see the court again as soon as Friday, when Texas hosts No. 21 Missouri.

Sophomore Rella Binney replaced Swindle in the starting lineup and dished out 36 assists in her first career start. Elliott said he was “extremely proud” of Rinney for executing an offense that tallied a .446 hitting percentage behind Torrey Stafford (14 kills) and Abby Vander Wal (10 kills).

“My team and my coaches only showed trust in me and believed that I could do it, so I didn’t have that many nerves,” Binney said. “I was excited to pull my first start and play with my team, and they made it really easy for me.”

Follow below for a replay and highlights from Texas volleyball’s win over Vanderbilt (4-6, 0-1).

Texas closes it out on a kill by Taylor Harvey. Next up? Missouri at Gregory Gymnasium Friday.

Abby Vander Wal and Nya Bunton say they can indeed close it out. Vander Wal hammers her 10th kill, Bunton gets her second block, and Texas closes in on the sweep.

Back-to-back errors from Cari Spears, and Vanderbilt forces a Texas timeout. Can the Longhorns close this out without any drama? Texas leads 2-0.

Vanderbilt is making Texas work, but the Cari Spears’ ninth kill gives the Longhorns some breathing room. Texas leads 2-0.

Set 3: Texas 8, Vanderbilt 3

The Commodores are scrappy enough, but they can’t do much at the net to impact the Texas. The Longhorns have 32 kills on 51 swings with just five hitting errors, and Vanderbilt has just 11 digs. Torrey Stafford leads all players with 12 kills. Texas leads 2-0.

The Longhorns get one step close to a sweep by handling business in the second set. Torrey Stafford, who leads all players with 11 kills on 17 swings, finishes the set off. Texas leads 2-0.

Set 2: Texas 18, Vanderbilt 12

Vanderbilt takes a timeout to try and find any kind of answer against the Longhorns. Rella Binney, starting in place of the injured Ella Swindle at setter for UT, has 21 assists. 

An amazing dig from Torrey Stafford, an incredible stab from Emma Halter, a kill by Abby Vander Wal. It’s been that kind of night for Texas. Heck, it’s been that kind of season. Stafford paces all players with seven kills on nine swings without an error. Texas leads 1-0.

Vandy’s Kamryn Chaney rips off four points with a nasty fastball from the service line to give her team an early lead, but Texas coach Jerritt Elliott passes on a timeout and lets his team figure things out. Texas leads 1-0.

All Texas that first set despite the absence of setter Ella Swindle. The Longhorns hit at a .565 clip behind setter Rella Binney (14 assists), outside hitters Cari Spears (5 kills) and Torrey Stafford (4 kills), and middle blocker Taylor Harvey (4 kills).

The onslaught continues for Texas, which has fired 11 kills on 15 swings. Rella Binney is up to nine assists, and she even sliced a crosscourt kill that triggered a wild celebration on the Texas bench.

No Ella Swindle, no problem so far. Rella Binney has five assists, Torrey Stafford has three kills, and the Longhorns have six kills on seven swings. This is a small Vanderbilt front row; I just don’t see how they can slow this massive Texas attack.

Rella Binney will start in place of the injured Ella Swindle at setter for Texas. She’ll be joined in the starting lineup by outside hitters Cari Spears and Torrey Stafford, middle blockers Ayden Ames and Taylor Harvey, libero Emma Halter and defensive specialist Ramsey Gary. Vanderbilt will start Hailee Mack, Kamryn Chaney, Isabella Bareford, Elli Kinney, Reese Aminashaun, Kayla Dunlap and Jacquelyn Moore.

Texas setter Ella Swindle is wearing a walking boot on her left foot and will not play against Vanderbilt. A 6-foot-3 junior, Swindle has started every match this season for the Longhorns while compiling 251 assists, 52 digs, 14 total blocks and 12 kills. Rella Binney, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, will replace Swindle at setter. Binney has 49 assists in 26 sets this season.

Where: Gregory Gymnasium in Austin